I think it is better to avoid using the word "border" when talking about these demonstrations. (Ditto for the word "Gazans". That is terminology Israel would like to encourage as it fosters the notion that Israel is being invaded by foreigners.

Better to refer to the "perimeter" or "Israel's wall" and to "Palestinians" or "Palestinian refugees"

With respect, the BDS framework, excellent tho it is, is incomplete as it does not lay out (nor try to) a vision of a post Zionist society with some clarity around what rights the Jewish minority will enjoy.

Until that is done by a credible Palestinian political party, which seems to have broad support, i think the west will continue to support Israel, and ignore its violations of human rights.

This is what the ANC did even while living under apartheid. That undermined western support for the regime.

Why do you describe the author as "having covered the occupation extensively"? Based on this article, I think he is knowledgeable about the Nakba, the destroyed villages in Israel, the refugees. etc. The "occupation" (by which most North Americans understand the "occupation of '67" is only a part of the problem.

Use nuclear weapons??
Where? On Beirut? In Jordan? In the West Bank (how many settlers would be killed?) In Gaza? Or perhaps it might use them against any European state which supported the right to return?

What would happen after that? Say it used a nuclear weapon in Lebanon? Then what kind of international support would Israel have? What would the end game be?

I don't think the US would need to impose 'severe' pressure on Israel. All it has to do is stop protecting Israel - economically, diplomatically, financially and militarily. The severe pressure will come from the rest of the world.

I think Mondoweiss should be more strict in vetting comments. Its tiring and a waste of time to wade through these ad hominem and snarky comments. You would do a service to all of us by making sure that comments add value to the discussion - new relevant information or new perspectives. That does not meaning excluding Zionists. On the contrary, we should encourage them to engage in thoughtful conversation. IMHO.

Well, not exactly.
An encouraging survey did show that a large majority of Canadians found boycotting Israel because of its settlements is "reasonable". They did not say, (and were not asked) if they support the 3 demands of the BDS movement. In my experience, getting Canadians to support the 3 BDS demands, especially the demand of the refugees for their "right to return", is a lot more difficult.

As I see it, despite all the efforts of the Israel lobby to demonize, delegitimize and even proscribe BDS in Canada it keeps on growing.

Of course the Israel lobby is still much more powerful that are the forces defending Palestinian human rights. They have more money and they are better organized.

They got that motion condemning BDS passed in the Canadian parliament, of course. But they didn't get unanmity. Far from it. The NDP voted against it and even 44 members of the ruling Liberal Party chose to be absent during the vote.

Furthermore, when a similar motion was introduced at the Ontario Provincial Legislature, the Premier instructed her caucus to defeat it, and it went down. She subsequently covered herself by saying she would work with the lobby to introduce a new motion, but there is no sign that her party is very eager to do this.

As I see it, the Canadian population and even the major political parties are showing themselves to be rather resistant to the Israel lobby's increasingly strident line.

This is not to depreciate the lobby. It is important. It does provide money and votes. But it doesn't buy hearts. And the more pressure it applies, the less people like it/them.

The lesson I draw is NOT - "Oh dear they are coming to get us". The lesson is "YEAH, despite their threats, people are not buying the lobby line."

I think its wonderful that the Mennonite Church has voted to take concrete action to oppose the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

But based on the info in this article, it did not go so far as to "side with BDS". Ending the occupation is only 1 of the 3 main demands of the BDS movement. Equality for Palestinians living inside Israel, and the right of return for the refugees are the other two.

Hats off to those who brought this to the Canadian Mennonites, but there is still quite a bit of work to do before it can be said that the MC sides with BDS.

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